Safety device for railways and the like



Ap 17, 192s.

P. T. WEBB SAFETY DEVICE FOR RAILWAYS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 24.' 1925 P. T. WEBB SAFETY DEVICE FOR RAILWAYS AND THE LIKEApril 17, 1928. 1,666,362

Filed April 24. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A \CQ Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES .'PURCELL THOMAS WEBB, OF CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND.

.SAFETY DEVICE FOR RAILWAYS AND THE LIKE.

Application led April 24, 1925, Serial No.

This invention relates to devices used in connection with railway linesfor the purpose of indicating to the .drivers o f approaching trains,the presence of shps or other obstructions on the line, and yhas for itsobject the provision of improved means for the aforesaid purpose.

The invention consists in providing at a place on a railway line whereal slip is thought likely to occur', a fence barrier, or line at one orboth sides of the railway line, at a suitable height from ther ground,and forming part of an electric circuit, containing safety lampssituated near the ends of the section of railway line so dealt with orprotected, the lamps under normal conditions remaining alight.

Should a slip occur, the protecting fence barrier or line will bebroken, and the lamps be extinguished, so that the driver of a trainfailing to observe a safety light, on approaching a section of railwayline so dealt with or protected, will be warned that an inspection ofthe protected section of railway line should be made, before running thetra-in over same.

In a further form the invention consists in providing at a place on therailway line where a slip is likely to occur, an insulated section ofrailway line, the rails of said insulated section forming part of anelectric circuit adapted to be closed b the presence on said insulatedsection, ofy a train, the wheels and axles of which bridge the rails andcomplete the circuit. Included in said circuit is or are one or moreprotecting fences barriers or lines at one or both sides of the line asaforesaid, and also distinctively coloured lights, and or sound or othersignals, so that upon a train running on to said insulated section ofrailway line when same is clear, the circuit will be completed andsignals either visual or by sound, or both, will be given, indicating tothe driver that he may proceed over said protected section of line. Alsoin order to warn the driver of the approach of the train to a protectedsection of railway line a further electric circuit is provided thelatter containing lights or other signals located near the ends of thesaid insulated'section of railway line.

In addition to or instead of the protected section indicating lightsnear the ends of said section, mechanically operated gongs or the likeadapted to be operated by the train 25,629, and in New Zealand May 2,1924.

may be provided to give warning of the trains approach to said section.f In the accompanying drawing in conjunction with which the inventionwill be further described.

y Figures l to 3 are diagrammatic views il.- lustrating different formsof the invention.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, the section 2 of railway line, isinsulated at 6 from the remainder of the railwa line, the rails of saidinsulated section 2, eing also included in the same circuit as the linefence or barrier 1, and the lamps 4, so that the circuit will be closedby the wheels and axles of a train running upon said section 2. In thisform a gong 5 or the like is also used to give warning of the trainsentrance or approach to said insulated section 2 and should .the lamp 4at or near the entrance end of the latter, fail to light, upon the trainbridging the rails of the insulated section 2 of railway line, it is anindication that the lino fence or barrier l is broken and the lineshould be inspected, before the train proceeds thereover.

The arrangement shown 'in Figure 2 is similar to that shown in Figure l,except that instead of current being drawn from overhead wires 3 it isdrawn from a local source of supply such as battery 7.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 3 there is provided at each end of asection 2 of railway line a lamp 8, the latter being used instead of, orin addition to the gong 5 or other alarm sounding means employed, forthe purpose of indicating that a protected section of line is beingentered upon or approached.

The lamps 8 are supplied with current from the overhead wires 3, and areconstantly alight, While the lamps 4 are adapted to be illumined onlyupon the line being clear, and through the closing of the circuit inwhich they are located, by the train wheels bridging the rails of theinsulated section 2. i

Other modifications of the invention, may be devised without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

What I do claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates of America is l. Means for the purpose specified, comprising anelectric line erected adjacent a section of railway line to beprotected, and

forming part of an electric circuit containingflanips, located near theends of said section ofrailway line, said lamps being adapt ed to beextinguished by a fall of earth or the like breaking said electric line;and signaling ineans t'or giving warning of the approach of a train, tosaid section of railway line, the section of railway line protected bythe electric line being insulated from the rest ci the railway line andalso forming part of the circuit through the .electric line and thelainps, and the the said circuit be ing closed when the electric lineisunbroken by the wheels and axle of a train bridging the rails of saidinsulated section of railway line, `substantially as described.

2. Means for the purpose specified, according to claim 1, wherein themeans :tor giving warning of the approach ot a train to the protectedsection of railway line coin- 20 prise gongs7 actuated by the train,substantially as described.

3. Means for the purpose specied according to claiin l whereinconstantly illumined lamps are located near the ends of the protectedsection of railway line7 for indicating the location of the protectedsection of railway line, substantially as described.

4. Means :tor the purpose specified, according to claim l, wherein theelectric line 30 erected adjacent the railuf'ayline, comprises a wirefence, substantially as described and illustrated.

In testimony whereol" I affix my signature.

PURCELL THOMAS WEBB.

